Nouns

ENGLISH

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Nouns So, what about it?

Noun can be defined as a name of a person, place or thing. Well, it’s all about
The word “thing” here can be described as -
‘NOUNS’ first!

a) something that we can feel with our five senses

b) something that we can think of but can’t feel.

Examples:

1) Anger is not a productive response to criticism.

2) The roses transformed the ambience of the banquet hall.

3) Ravi’s magnanimity is the reason behind his popularity.

Types of Nouns
There are usually 5 types of nouns:

1. Proper noun: It is a specific (i.e., not generic) name for a particular person, place, or thing.
Examples: Jigyasa, India, Delhi etc

2. Common noun: It is the generic name for a person, place, or thing in a class or group.
Examples: girl, country, city etc

3. Material noun: It refers to the matter, material or substance with which things are made.
Examples: gold, wood, water etc

4. Abstract noun: It refers to an idea or a general quality, not to a physical object.

Examples: love, hate, anger, faith etc

5. Collective noun: It is a collection or group of people, places or things taken as a whole.

Examples: Jury, team, bunch etc

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Countable vs. Uncountable Noun

Countable Noun Uncountable Noun

Has a singular or a plural form. Can be used before a

Cannot be counted. Only measured.
number or an article (a, an, the). Can be counted.

Testbook Trick

If you want to ask about the quantity of a countable noun, you ask "How many?" combined with the plural
countable noun.

Example:

Question- How many books?

Answer– Four books.

Common vs. Abstract Noun

Common Noun Abstract Noun

Refer to physicality. Something or someone that can be Refer to no physical existence. Can be felt. Feelings,
sensed. Emotions, Reactions, Actions.

Common vs. Proper Noun

Common Noun Proper Noun

Used to name people, place or thing in general. It refers to Used to name SPECIFIC people, place or thing. It refers to
the class or type. individual or single entity. Starts with a 'BLOCK' letter.

Compound vs. Collective Noun

Compound Noun Collective Noun

Two or more words that can create a noun. They can be Refers to a collection, bunch of a similar kind. Pack, bunch,
written as one word, or written with a hyphen in between. group, crowd.

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Know more about Collective Nouns

Are collective nouns singular or plural
Collective Noun Key Rule
A collective noun comprises more than one unit but is treated singular because it is a single entity.
Examples:
1. The Jury has made its decision unanimously.
2. The team has won the toss and chosen to bat first.

(In the first example, Jury is a collective noun that means a group of advocates and judges but it takes a sin-
gular pronoun “its” and singular verb “has” since Jury is a group - a single entity)

(In the second example, Team is a collective noun that means a group of players but it takes singular verb “is”
since team is a group - a single entity.)

Exception
A collective noun is usually ‘singular’ but treated to be a “Plural”noun in the following cases-
i) If a collective noun is represented, divided.
ii) If members of a collective noun are represented individually.
Examples-
1. The Jury are divided in their opinions.
2. The team are changing their dresses in the hall.
(In the first sentence, Jury is a collective noun but the verb and possessive pronoun with it are ‘plural’ be-
cause the jury is divided and “if a collective noun is divided it becomes plural”)
(In the second sentence, Team is a collective noun but taking a plural verb because individual members of
team are being considered. The sentence means - ‘The team members are changing their dresses in the
hall’)

Learning Collective nouns will help aspirants in the followings-

1.Error detection or fill in the blank based on vocabulary

2.For the questions related to one word substitution

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LIST OF IMPORTANT COLLECTIVE NOUNS:-

Below is the list of some important collective nouns, a student must go through them to have a thorough knowledge of
collective nouns.

List of Important Collective Nouns List of Important Collective Nouns List of Collective Nouns denoting a
Denoting groups of People: Denoting a Group of Animals & Group of Non-living Things
Birds:

A panel of judges/experts. A pack of wolves/foxen A range of mountains.

A posse/squad of policemen. A shoal of fishes. A series of events.

A regiment of soldiers. A team of horses/ducks/oxen. A tuft of hair/grass.

A staff of employees. A troop of monkeys. A string of pearls.

A team of players. An ostentation of peacocks A stock of goods.

A troupe of actor/acrobats. A clutter/clowder of cats. A stream of bananas.

A troop of soldiers. A covey of quails A row of trees.

A tribe of natives. A brood of offspring A wad of notes.

A stream flow of people/visitors A kaleidoscope of butterflies A battery of heavy guns

A throng of large crowd of people A flamboyance of flamingos A cache of arms, hidden

A delegation of delegates A dazzle of zebras A chest of drawers

A syndicate of merchants A cast of crabs A tissue of lies or crimes

A choir/chorus of back singers A pit/nest/den of snakes A volley of arrows/stones/abuses

# Rules 1: Uncountable Nouns

Uncountable nouns are always used singular.

 We should not use article A/An with uncountable nouns

 We can not pluralize uncountable nouns by adding `s' or 'es’.

These nouns are:-

Scenery, poetry, furniture, advice, information, hair, language. business, mischief, bread, stationery, crockery,
luggage, baggage, postage, knowledge, electricity, paper, machinery, stationery, wastage, money, breakage,
pollution, abuse, vacation rice, food, fuel, traffic, jewelry, mankind, rice, espionage, bedding, health, water,
work etc
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Common Mistake in Uncountable nouns

From the previous rule 1, following common mistakes that generally occur, can be prevented.

Example: The scenery of Kashmir are enchanting. —WRONG

The scenery of Kashmir is enchanting. —CORRECT

Example: Advices are given to those who ask. —WRONG

Advice is given to those who ask. —CORRECT

Example: The mischiefs committed by him are unpardonable. —WRONG

The mischief committed by him is unpardonable. —CORRECT

# Rules 2: Plural Nouns

Plural nouns are always used in a plural form and always take a plural verb.

Note: We should not remove “s/es” from them in any case otherwise the word becomes incorrect.

These nouns are-

Goods, alms, premises, thanks, outskirts, crossroads, pains, arrears, congratulations, thanks, fireworks, cre-
dentials, ashes, annals, braces, auspices, tatters, nuptials, rations, stairs, embers, assets.

Instruments comprise a pair of similar parts:

Scissors, spectacles, goggles, bifocals, binoculars, earmuffs, awls, pincers, shears, gauntlets, bellows, clip-
pers, earmuffs, pliers, sunglasses, tongs.

Clothes or wearables comprise a pair of similar parts

trousers, jeans, pants, shorts, pajamas, breeches, jodhpurs, pantaloons, thongs, culottes, trappings, stock-
ings, shoes, socks etc

Common Mistake in Plural nouns

Example: Where is my trouser? —WRONG
Where are my trousers? —CORRECT

Example: Spectacles is a costly item. —WRONG

Spectacles are costly items. —CORRECT

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# Rules 3:
Some nouns look singular but have plural meanings. Such nouns take plural verbs.

Note: We should not add “s/es” in them because they are already plural.

These nouns are-

Cattle, clergy, cavalry, infantry, poultry, peasantry, children, gentry, police, majority, artillery, cognoscenti,
vermin etc

Common Mistake
Example: The cattle is grazing in the ground. —WRONG
The cattle are grazing in the ground. —CORRECT

Example: The police has the situation under control. —WRONG

The police have the situation under control. —CORRECT

# Rules 4:
Some nouns look plural in form but have a singular meaning.

Note: We should use singular verb with them despite they end with ‘s/es’

These nouns are-

News, politics, summons, physics, economics, ethics. mechanics, mathematics, measles, mumps, rickets, bil-
liards, draughts, 3 musketeers, Arabian nights, Philippines, Netherlands or Name of any noun ending with s/
es etc.

Note:- Plural of summons is “summonses”

Common Mistake
Example: Ethics demands honesty. —WRONG
Ethics demand honesty. —CORRECT

Example: Mathematics are my favorite subject. —WRONG

Mathematics is my favorite subject.—CORRECT

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# Rules 5:
Some nouns remain unchanged and can be used as Singular and Plural nouns both.

Note: We should not change these nouns for their singular or plural usage or meaning.

These nouns are-

Sheep, deer, swine, offspring, salmon, fish, sturgeon, carp, pike, cod, trout, counsel, pice, aircraft, salmon,
series, species, innings etc

Common Mistake
Example: Sheeps are sold costlier than goats. —WRONG
Sheep are sold costlier than goats. —CORRECT

Example: Salmons is the first choice of fish eaters. —WRONG

Salmon is the first choice of fish eaters. —CORRECT

Example: India won the match by an inning. —WRONG

India won the match by an innings. —CORRECT

Exception
“Fishes” and “aircraft” are plural nouns used to mention different types or variety.

Example:
 Fisherman caught many fish in his net. —CORRECT
 I have 2 gold and 3 silver fishes in my aquarium.—CORRECT
 India has signed a deal to purchase 30 aircraft from France. —CORRECT
 Now, India has a unique collection of aircrafts.—CORRECT

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# Rules 6
Some nouns change their meanings completely after adding ‘s/es’ in them.
Use of nouns as singular and plural in forms.

Noun Meaning Noun Meaning

Wood Material Woods Forest

Water Material Waters Sea
Sand Material Sands Land
Iron Material Irons Chains or shackles
Cloth Unstitched Clothes Stitched
Work Labour/ task Works Literary writings
Air Mixture of gases Airs Attitude
Advice Suggestion Advices Information
Custom Habit Customs Tax
Color Material Colors Flag or materials
Arm Organ Arms Organs or weapons
Copper Material Coppers Copper coins
Force Strength/ troop Forces troops
Proceed To move ahead (verb) Proceeds Money
Quarter One fourth Quarters Houses, lodgings
Good Nice (adj) Goods Articles

Common Mistake
Example: Cops caught the burglar and took him to jail in iron. —WRONG
Cops caught the burglar and took him to jail in irons. —CORRECT

Example: Put on your cloth and come fast. —WRONG

Put on your clothes and come fast. —CORRECT

Example: We must obey the advices of our elders. —WRONG

We must obey the advice of our elders. —CORRECT

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# Rules 7
Not all nouns are changed into plural form by adding ‘s/es’. Some of them have unusual plural.

Singular Form Plural Form

Commander in chief Commanders in chief

Sister in law Sisters in law
Attorney General Attorneys General
Maid servant Maid servants

Man servant Men servants

M.A. M.A.’s
Mouse Mice
Ox Oxen

Datum Data
Medium Media
Forum Forums, Fora
Criterion Criteria
Phenomenon Phenomena
Formula Formulae

Oasis Oases

Lacuna Lacunae

Erratum Errata

Memorandum Memoranda
Alumnus Alumni
Syllabus Syllabi
Addendum Addenda

Common Mistake
Example: Bacterias flourish in left over food rapidly. —WRONG
Bacteria flourish in left over food rapidly. —CORRECT

Example His father is leading the oxes in the field. —WRONG

His father is leading the oxen in the field.—CORRECT

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# Rules 8: Nouns and Prepositions

The structure – ‘Noun + preposition + same noun’ is always used in the singular form of verb.

A singular noun is always used before a preposition and after a preposition and hence followed by a
singular verb.

Examples:

1) Town after town was devastated.

2) Row upon row of marble looks beautiful.

3) He enquired door to door.

4) Ship after ship is arriving.

5) Village after village has been swept away.

6) She recited the poem word for word.

7) They walked hand in hand.

# Rules 9: Case of Selection

A plural noun or a plural pronoun is used after these phrases –

one of, each of, either of, neither of, any one of, a few of, very few of, half of, a lot of, a large number of,
etc.

Examples:

1) One of my friend (Incorrect)

One of my friends (Correct)

2) Each of the student. (Incorrect)

Each of the students. (Correct)

3) A few of the militant. (Incorrect)

A few of the militants (Correct)

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# Rules 10: Use of apostrophe s (’s)

(i) The possessive case of Noun denotes possession, ownership, authorship, or origin.

We can make a noun in a possessive case just by adding an apostrophe (‘) and “s” at the end.

In simple words We show the possession just by adding an ‘s to a Noun.

Example- Ram’s shop, Mohan’s book, Divy kant's notes, Children’s play. etc.

(ii) If a Proper Noun (singular) is ending in “s” then you can just add an apostrophe (‘) to show possession .

Similarly, If there is a plural Noun ending with “s” then we only use an apostrophe (‘) to show possession.

(Generally, we ignore adding “s” just to avoid too much hissing. )

Example-

 James’s pen. (Incorrect)

James’ pen (Correct)

 Girls’s Hostel. (Incorrect)

Girls’ Hostel. (Correct)

(iii) We do not use apostrophe (‘s) consecutively. (one after the other)

Example-

 My father’s friend’s marriage. (incorrect)

 Marriage of my father’s friend. (correct)

(iv) Usually (‘s) apostrophe is not used with “non-Living things” Unless the non living thing is personified, or
related to measurement or nature.

Example-

 Chair’s handle is broken. (incorrect)

 Handle of the chair is broken (correct)

 The baby slept in chair’s leap. (correct) - (because chair is personified in the sentence)

(v) If there are more than one noun joined with the conjunction ‘and’ -

A) Using ‘s with all of them will represent individual possession.

B) Using ‘s with the last noun only will represent joint possession.

Example-

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 Sheela’s and Rohit’s fathers are meeting today. (Fathers of both Sheela and Rohit)

 Sheela and Rohit’s father is going to the meeting. (Same father: both are siblings)

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